About Us

Cheval Noir

Cheval Noir was founded by Hannah Rickles and is focused on dressage based training for all disciplines, specializing in dressage, eventing, and jumpers. Our goal is to help you and your horse connect on a deeper, more relaxed and trusting level.

Head Trainer

Hannah Rickles

Cheval Noir was founded by head trainer Hannah Rickles in 2018. Hannah is a USDF Bronze Medalist (working on her silver currently) and has worked at several equine facilities from the time she was 16. Starting as a barn hand, she dedicated her time to improving her riding skills and learning all she could about horse care and worked her way up the ladder to become a successful equestrian. During this time she dedicated herself to learning the correct foundations of dressage. She has trained with many national and international trainers, including Christian Schacht, Micah Deligdish, Luis Valenca, Filipa Valenca, Lea Forge, and Patrick King. She is constantly attending lessons and clinics to further her education.

Hannah is currently competing at Prix St Georges with her own Wango Tango. She has also competed through Training Level eventing and 1.30m jumpers.

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Working Student

Miranda Levin

Miranda is a junior at NC State and is majoring in history with a concentration in education and minoring in business administration. At NC State, Miranda rides for the eventing team and is the First Level Alternate for the IDA Team. Miranda began riding at 8 years old in the hunter ring, but transitioned to western before finding her passion for eventing and dressage at 13. In January 2017, Miranda bought her paint pony, Van Gogh, who she is currently competing at Novice level eventing and first level dressage in the pony divisions. Miranda’s main goal is to achieve her bronze medal with Van. Miranda joined the Cheval Noir team in May 2019 as a working student and returns to work with Hannah on school holidays.

Working Student

Jana Perez

Jana Perez is a 20 year old Equestrian Studies major at Savannah College of Art and Design. She has been riding since she was 7 mainly in the Hunter/Jumper discipline, specializing in hunter seat equitation. She competed up to the 3’ equitation medals in her junior career, and placed 8th at the SCHJA Palmetto Medal Finals in 2017. She is a current member of the SCAD IHSA team in the Limit division. In April 2020, she joined the Cheval Noir team as a working student and began her dressage and eventing training. She is now competing in dressage on breaks from school and continues her hunter training while at SCAD.